The 23-year-old defender subsequently saw his move to Serie A blocked by club chairman Louis Nicollin and decided to stay in southern France.

‘The chairman said I could go and I was ready to pack my suitcases,’ said Yanga-Mbiwa, who was also linked to Chelsea and Manchester City.

‘AC Milan came I for me but the chairman turned down the [£4.8million] offer. From then on, I knew that it [a transfer] would be difficult.’

Yanga-Mbiwa, who is in the France squad for the double header against Finland and Belarus, added: ‘Arsenal made an offer, but I had already moved on…

‘I was disappointed when I realised that things would not happen with Milan. I didn’t want to get involved in something complicated again.’

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has a good relationship with the French club after taking striker Olivier Giroud to north London earlier in the transfer window, but Yanga-Mbiwa could now extend his contract with Montpellier.